NB: this is not a sponsored post and is based purely on our own thoughts and experience for products we have purchased for our own personal use.

As a thick thighed runner who has suffered with chafe since his high school sports days I think I have tried it all. I’ll never forget pulling up my Nike running tights in the bathroom next to a start line only to see a small hole in my tights on my inner left thigh.

A double application of lube to the exact spot and a prayer to the gods could do nothing as I crossed the finish line with a hole now 3 times the size and bleeding, raw skin to show for my efforts! 

These two products have been GAME CHANGERS for me! And I bet they will be for you too. 

T8 Commandos - where have you been all my life! 

The best of the best running underwear on the market, the T8 commandos are a dream come true. Now we say underwear as these are not a compression garment or running tight but designed to keep you chafe free under your running shorts and work almost in the opposite manner to a pair of tights. I will typically tear through a pair of nike running tights within 2-3 months of regular running. My T8 commandos last for years.

Designed in Hong Kong to battle the super humid weather (and associated immense sweating and chafe that brings) the T8 commandos let your skin breathe and the moisture evaporate to help you remain dry. The material whilst thin and breathable moves freely over itself so as not to cause friction and wear whilst also stopping skin to skin rubbing.

The band is minimal in size and doesn't apply a large amount of pressure to your stomach. And the most important thing for me is the legs remain in place with no riding up as my thighs high five.

Our only fault in them - they don't leave much to the imagination! Whilst they almost look see through - that is all on purpose to stop moisture being trapped and seems like a small price to pay for intact skin where it matters most. It comes in both a mens and womens style - for more info:

Click here to check the T8 Commandos!

Trail Toes - One lube to rule them all! 

Vaseline, Body Glide, Squirrel Nut Butter there are plenty of options out there for you to try but Trail Toes is without a doubt the best I’ve used.

Vaseline is no doubt the cheapest and most readily available lubricant but can leave nasty stains and marks on your clothing. We would advise against using it unless you want it to constantly look like you couldn't find a bathroom on your morning jog.

Personally I find the roll on/stick applications difficult to get into the harder to reach parts where I am susceptible to chafe and it a lot harder to slather on a thick layer when I know I am going to be out on a longer effort. 

For years I used Squirrel Nut Butter and whilst happy with it most of the time - learned the hard way that it is temperature sensitive. In the extreme cold it is very difficult to apply and in the extreme heat it melts away needing almost constant reapplication.

This is where Trail Toes steps ahead of the rest. The consistency of the gel fairs much better in all weather conditions - as such I find it lasts A LOT longer when applied meaning less applications required and the tub lasts longer. It comes in both larger tubs and smaller sachets (perfect to tuck in your vest for emergencies). The only issue - it is hard to come by if you are outside of the US. Something we hope will change with increasing popularity. 

Click here to check out Trail Toes!

These two products have been GAME CHANGERS for me! And I bet they will be for you too. If you've tried them out or have any other suggestions drop them in the comments below we'd love to hear them.

Check out more from Moretrail

So You Want to Run Your First Trail Race.... Series (pt 1 - Shoes)

In this series we offer advice on all the things required to run your first trail race. In part 1 we focus on trail shoes and our advice on getting your first pair.

Hot Takes from AMA with Rod Farvard's Coach! (M2 Western States)

Matt Ison has been Rod's coach since 2016. After his break out performance at States, Matt did an AMA on Reddit going in depth on a range of topics around Rod's coaching and training. Here are some hot takes and best bits from the thread.

Tips for Returning to Running After a Long Break.

Some times life gets in the way of a consistent running schedule. Here are our top tips to returning to running when its been a while since your last running block.